WHAKATAUKĪ

TIAKINA TE WHENUA I TĒNEI RĀ, KIA WHAI ORANGA TANGATA MŌ NGĀ RĀ E HEKE MAI NEI.

PROVERB

CARING FOR THE LAND TODAY, SO THAT THE LAND CARES FOR US TOMORROW.

TIAKI THE DEFINITION:

Tiaki means to look after, to guard, to care for, keep and nurture. This single word embodies the full vision of Farm Source’s Sustainable Dairying Programme which is centred around caring for the land for future generations. All who work it and all who are connected to it.
It’s a simple name which speaks of our commitment to do what is right, not only regionally, but on a national level and also on the international stage as we continue to lead the way in sustainable dairy farming solutions.

THE LAND AND PEOPLE ARE CLOSELY LINKED:

The word Kaitiakitanga (containing the root word ‘tiaki’) refers to guardianship, stewardship, and a dedication to protect our natural environment. Something we can all work towards.

HERE FOR FARMERS TODAY, BUILDING A STRONGER TOMORROW

ABOUT TIAKI

The journey to sustainable nutrition begins on the farm. That’s why our Sustainable Dairying teams are right where our farmers need them – in each and every region of New Zealand – to help identify and act on sustainability opportunities for the future benefit of their dairy businesses.
The Tiaki Sustainable Dairying Programme has been designed exclusively for the use of Fonterra farmers. It enables them to tap into specialised regional knowledge, expertise and services to support best practice farm management, proactively stay ahead of regulatory requirements, and satisfy evolving consumer and market expectations.
Our Sustainable Dairy Advisors (SDA’s) are on hand with a suite of tools and services to assist with a broad range of sustainability-related farm matters. From on farm nutrient management advice to helping set up a farm environment plan.
Overall, everyone benefits. Building a sustainably produced milk supply ensures Fonterra is relevant to communities, consumers and customers around the world with an ever-increasing environmental awareness.

WHY WE’RE BETTER OFF WITH A SUSTAINABLE FOCUS

BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

We understand farmers see themselves as caretakers of the land. This connection with the environment is an important part of who we are as New Zealanders. Our Tiaki programme is here to support farmers with the resources they need to continue to manage and maintain our environment for generations to come.

BETTER FOR BUSINESS

While initially our focus is on the natural environment and particularly water, the ongoing sustainable management journey will encompass all aspects of good management practice on farm.

BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY

Sustainable practices will help meet the increasing expectations of the communities our farmers are an integral part of. By caring for our surroundings, everyone can continue to enjoy our world-renowned natural environments.

BETTER FOR THE CO-OPERATIVE

As a responsible co-operative, sustainable dairying is core to our strategy to deliver long term value. The demand for sustainably produced goods is increasing in both local and international markets. This is driven by the changing awareness of consumers. Embracing a sustainable approach is a genuine opportunity for domestic and export growth. That’s good for farmers and New Zealand.

SO HOW WILL TIAKI ASSIST FARMERS?

OUR TIAKI PROGRAMME OFFERS TOOLS AND SERVICES TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL FARM

FARM ENVIRONMENT PLAN’S.

Farm Environment Plan’s are vital for the long term planning of sustainable farms. Our SDA’s can help develop a Farm Environment Plan that meets the individual’s farm needs and reflects the key issues on farm and any relevant regulatory requirements.

CONSENT SUPPORT.

We can assist farmers to navigate the resource consent process. This can include providing help with provision of supporting information like nutrient budgets, farm maps, effluent storage calculations as required by regional authorities.

NUTRIENT BUDGETS.

Our SDA’s are Certified Nutrient Management Advisors, who can review farmer nutrient budgets and help identify how on-farm changes can influence nutrient loss. Our annual end-of-season nutrient budgeting service can also satisfy regulatory obligations.

NITROGEN REPORTS.

Using the OVERSEER® model, we’ll process on-farm information to produce you a nitrogen management report. This can assist with making informed decisions, identifying opportunities for efficiency profitability, regulatory reporting and more.

FARM MAPPING.

Using our GIS software, we can map farms down to nitrogen management block level. Useful for creating OVERSEER® base files, and supporting consent applications. We can map a farm’s waterways and crossings using our GIS technology. Maps are then made available for the farmer’s use.

CATCHMENT GROUP MANAGEMENT.

We collaborate with other stakeholders to better manage land and water in specific regional catchments, and support trials of new on-farm practices and technologies to help farmers achieve environmental goals.

LIVING WATER.

Living Water is a 10-year strategic partnership between DOC and Fonterra that aims to demonstrate sustainable dairying in healthy freshwater ecosystems in five significant dairying regions across New Zealand. It facilitates communication and interaction between farmers, iwi/hapu, community and other key stakeholders. Learnings from these catchments can be applied more widely, to help all of our farmers.

RIPARIAN MANAGEMENT PLANS.

Our SDA’s offer assistance with meeting effluent management requirements for the region. They can also discuss effluent solutions based on farm type and set up.

EFFLUENT MANAGEMENT.

DAIRY EFFLUENT STORAGE CALCULATION.

We can provide access to and assistance with an effluent storage calculator for regulatory requirements, planning or upgrades.

WATER USE EFFICIENCY.

We offer support to help reduce costs and improve water efficiency with shed water, stock water and freshwater irrigation. This includes support for testing irrigation application depths and uniformity, as well as access to irrigation testing kits. We can also help with cost savings on water meters.

ACCESS TO INDUSTRY NETWORKS & CONTACTS.

Our SDA’s regularly engage with leaders in farm environmental management as well as regulators. This means they can access key contacts and information for farmer issues and requests.

ACCESS TO FUNDING INFORMATION.

Our SDA’s can connect farmers with funding opportunities, and support them with their application.

INDUSTRY SCHEME.

Industry audited self-management schemes may become an option for Fonterra farmers in the future. Farmers would be able to opt-in to a Fonterra scheme which will support them to meet certain regulatory requirements in some regions.

USING TECHNOLOGY TO CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Fonterra is committed to protecting fresh water in New Zealand and supporting our farmers to adopt good management practice on farm, so it is great that technology can aid this process

When it comes to environmental management on-farm, knowledge is power. Fonterra provides a lot of this knowledge by using innovative Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping technology.

GIS technology is designed to capture, manage, analyse and display forms of geographical information visually on a map. In a farming scenario where different land areas have different uses and different geographical features, this technology is extremely useful in helping to manage and mitigate the environmental impacts of farming.

GIS technology is helping our farmers maximise the benefits of efficient nutrient use, benchmark their performance against others and demonstrate their strong commitment to environmental responsibility in regards to waterways fencing (stock exclusion), riparian management and nitrogen management.

TESTIMONIALS

TONY NEEDED A SUSTAINABLE EFFLUENT SYSTEM. HIS SDA HAD ALL THE CONNECTIONS

TONY BROWN

Tony Brown was under no illusions when, in 2013, he purchased a farm. There was a lot of work to be done.

Some time back the farm had been dairy but had converted to beef about eight years ago. Much of the dairy infrastructure had fallen into disrepair. So the critical challenge was to bring everything up to current standards for Fonterra supply – and sustainability was a key part of the criteria

TOP OF THE LIST WAS THE EFFLUENT SYSTEM.
Tony’s Area Manager suggested the SDA could help, says SDA Rob Woolerton.

"He then got in touch with me to discuss the sustainability requirements involved in bringing the farm back into supply. Tony had already done a lot of planning. When well got together, it was clear there was a major effluent system upgrade on the cards – including a new effluent pond."

Tony says he valued the fact that Rob was an impartial source of advice. “At the time, I had a lot of people feeding me information, but they were people selling their own product,” he notes. “We brought Rob on board and he worked out what our base was, and where we wanted to be going forward."

A REGIONAL FOCUS.
There are very specific rules around effluent storage and pond sealing, and standards are constantly evolving. "We were able to provide Tony with guidance on council rules and, even more importantly, where regulation is heading," explains Rob. "Then once we understood his goals, and of course his budget, we were able to provide a number of scenarios for the construction of the effluent system."

FARMING INTO THE FUTURE.
When you're investing in infrastructure like effluent systems, Rob knows it’s crucial to have one eye on tomorrow. "It's an integral part of any sustainability solution," he comments. And Tony openly agrees. "It's one thing to become compliant, but you need to consider where you’re going to need to be in ten years’ time."

ALL WORKING PERFECTLY.
It was by no means a small job, and there were certainly other challenges on the road to supply. However, within 12 months, Tony had his operation successfully up and running. "The solution we designed from the outset is working perfectly now," he says. "It's reassuring to know I don’t have to change a thing for the foreseeable future".

ROD CAME TO US ABOUT A FEEDPAD AND LEFT WITH A HEALTHY APPETITE FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING.

ROD MCKINNON

Farmer Rod McKinnon had designs on a new feedpad. Then he made a smart call.

Rod had done his homework but now needed a hand with feasibility calculations. After a quick chat with his local Farm Source team, he got on the phone to Sustainable Dairy Advisor, Sam Cashell. A few days later, when Sam dropped by to size up the project, he identified some opportunities that would further benefit the farm

“Taking the rest of the effluent system into account, I could see it would be better to increase the capacity of the effluent pond too,” says Sam. “Rod had an older earth-lined pond, plus he wanted to avoid irrigation in winter. Rebuilding to best practice standards would provide a big operational advantage.”

DETERMINING THE BEST OPTIONS.
“Sam took the time to understand our goals and ambitions,” explains Rod. “He worked out four different scenarios for the feedpad – it was quite a complex document. He also made all the calculations for building the effluent pond.”

TENS OF THOUSANDS SAVED ON RIPARIAN PLANTING.
With the topic of nutrient leaching addressed through the upgraded effluent system, the conversation turned to the nearby stream and wetlands. “We determined riparian planting could further reduce with nutrient loss, which would also benefit water quality,” says Sam.
Sam introduced Rod to Warren Coffey from the regional council. It turned out to be a real plus, as the council was prepared to pay 35% of all costs and materials – a saving of tens of thousands of dollars

RESULTS WELL WORTH THE EFFORT.
Several years on and Rod is more than satisfied with the way things worked out. The changes have had a positive effect on the farm and the work around the stream and wetlands has made a significant difference in water quality.
“When I see what we’ve done in the last three years, I’m very proud, Rod says. “And I look forward to what we’re going to achieve in the next five to ten years.”

GARRY KNEW HE NEEDED AN ENVIRONMENT PLAN.

GARRY REYMER

When Garry Reymer took over an 80-hectare Cambridge dairy farm, little to no environmental work had been done. But it didn’t take long to get stuck in.

In two short years, Garry had fenced off waterways, started riparian planting, fenced the drains, sorted the effluent, and dealt with the underpass. The bulk of the work was done, but he knew there would still be areas to address.

A BOLD NEW INITIATIVE.
When Garry was invited to take part in a Farm Environment Plan pilot programme, he recognised it as an ideal opportunity to keep the ball rolling. The Farm Environment Plan pilot programme was set up by Fonterra and Waikato Federated Farmers, with a view to helping farmers prepare for the Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change.

“We realised it would provide some really good learnings – we figured it had to be done anyway, and the sooner the better,” explains Garry. “It was good to be able to work with a trusted entity, like Fonterra. It gave me confidence it was going to get done properly, done right, with people I know.”

In Garry’s case, the results were gratifying. They provided instant feedback of just how far he had taken the farm. Just as importantly, it confirmed a clear way forward for future work, too.

TAILORED ON A FARM-BY-FARM BASIS
The Farm Environment Plan’s are individualised for each farm, including a farm map and photos of critical locations around the farm. They look at the work farmers may need to do to reduce sediment, bacteria and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from entering water systems, including groundwater.

To get one set up, a Sustainable Dairy Advisor (SDA) walks the property with each farmer. Together they look at the farm’s terrain, waterways, the size and complexity of the operation, underpasses, effluent management, stocking rates, cropping regimes, nitrogen management, water use and more. The SDA then recommends what areas could be improved in a comprehensive report.

MEETING FUTURE CHALLENGES.
It’s no secret the regulatory landscape is always evolving, and the Waikato Regional Plan Change is a case in point. Fonterra Sustainable Dairying Change Manager Andrew Kempson believes Farm Environment Plan’s are critical for dairy moving forward.

“The Waikato Regional Plan Change will require farmers to develop and implement a Farm Environment Plan either as part of a Certified Industry Scheme or through resource consent, so individualised Farm Environment Plan’s will help farmers to meet the changing regulations,” says Andrew.“ In the long term, this will also deliver water quality benefits, which is a win-win for everyone. Farm Environment Plan’s are already required in a number of regions such as Canterbury and Southland, and are a useful tool for all farmers regardless of regulatory requirements.”

The Farm Environment Plan pilot programme produced some reassuring results. “It was really heartening we were able to document the great work already happening,” says Andrew. “This highlights the dairy industry has made significant investments and contributions to improving this space in the last 10-15 years. We’re already a long way towards actually achieving what’s required.”

WATCH THIS SPACE.
Andrew says the pilot programme had great buy-in from farmers. “They realised this is a great service that Fonterra can provide its farmers and it was a positive experience for them.”

It’s a position that Garry agrees with. “If I had to do it myself, the enormity of the task would probably just seem too much,” he says. “Fonterra has the resources, they know what’s got to be done, they’ve done plenty of them.”

Farm Environment Plan’s that help farmers manage their impact and meet regulatory requirements are just one of the tools that Fonterra’s Farm Source has available under our Tiaki programme. But while regulations and expectations will continue to change, one thing is for certain, the co-operative will keep working with farmers to help protect and nurture the natural environments that support us all.